Honeyman and the Brothers Farr is a powerhouse songwriter collective made up of Simon Honeyman, Eric Farr, and James Farr.
Though still of tender years, these young men have generated a
dedicated following due to the excellence of their original songbook
and the ecstatic energy of their live sets. The band has played to
sold-out crowds in both Ottawa and Montreal, and has been attracting
attention at the Ottawa Bluesfest, the Blacksheep Inn, and as musical
guests on CBC Radio 1.
Simon is a classically trained and professional counter tenor. He has
performed alongside some of the best classical talent in the world,
including renowned vocalist Daniel Taylor. Eric is a compelling pianist
and vocalist deeply influenced by the Gospel and Spiritual traditions
of the southern United States. He has performed with Canadian roots
legend Ken Whiteley and continues to direct youth gospel choirs across
the globe. Despite his young age, James is steadily gaining a
reputation as one of the most phenomenal guitar players in the region.
His power-driven fusion of blues, folk, and flamenco traditions has led
him to appearances alongside Kelly Joe Phelps, Juno-winners Ray
Bonneville and Colin Linden, and awards like the CBC Galaxy Rising Star
Award.
All gifted performers in their own right, Simon Honeyman, Eric Farr and
James Farr decided to fuse these diverse musical backgrounds in the
spring of 2006 and push their creative outputs to even higher levels of
artistry. As Honeyman & the Brothers Farr, they combine this myriad
of influences to create a brand of eccentric yet accessible music that
is unmistakably unique. In any given song, the audience might be
exposed to the brutal intensity of pre-war blues, the awe-full joy of
old-world gospel, and the harmonic purity of classical. Their
commitment to artistic innovation and integrity is only matched by the
electrifying dynamism of their live show.
What motivates these three young men is not only the desire to create
music, but to foster a sense of comfort and community through their
efforts. Interaction with the audience plays a vital role in any HBF
show, with humour and sincerity coming to the fore in every
performance.
The boys are hot on the completion of their debut album, “Behind the
Veil, Behind the Veil”, available now. The album
celebrates and struggles with themes of love, authenticity, and beauty.
Showcasing impressive instrumentalism, tight three-part harmonies, and
superior original songs, it represents a milestone in the development
of one of Canada’s most promising young bands.